Nowadays, facial masks have become a staple in every girl’s facial routine. From sheet masks, sleeping masks to peel-off masks, each one serves a different function and nourishes the skin in different ways. With my combination skin and visibly large pores, it has been quite a challenge for me to find the perfect facial mask which would do what my skin needs specifically: to reduce the appearance of my pores and to reduce oil where I get greasy while still hydrating the parts of my face which tends to get dry and flaky. I then gave Boscia’s Luminizing Black Mask a shot. Let’s see how it fared on my skin.
What it is and its claims
This mineral-rich peel-off mask is made out of premier clay and claims to powerfully detoxify, purify and brighten the skin with its deep-cleansing properties to draw out dirt and oil while its antioxidants help to shrink pores, reduce inflammation and firm the skin. Once the mask has dried, it also strips away impurities and dead skin to reveal visible and immediate results.
A few of its notable ingredients that should be highlighted are: Vitamin C – which helps to deliver healthy, younger-looking skin by preventing free-radical damage, Calcium Montmorillonite Clay – which helps to absorb excess oil, dirt and toxins from the skin and exfoliates dead skin cells and Witch Hazel – which is an anti-inflammatory and natural antiseptic that helps to prevent blemishes and tighten pores.
For those who have extra sensitive skin, you don’t have to worry as this product is also formulated without the icky stuff that could damage your skin such as parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances and dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs and triclosan.
How to apply
Simply spread an even layer of the product all over your face, avoiding areas like your eyes, eyebrows, hairline and lips. Leave it to dry for 15-20 minutes and then peel off gently beginning from the outer corners. Finally, rinse off any residue of the mask and follow up with toner and moisturiser. On the packaging, it says that it is recommended to be used once or twice per week.
Verdict
Firstly, do note that I have tried and tested the product on my actual face. However, for the purpose of this demonstration, I will be using my forearm to show you.
When being squeezed out of its tube, the product is very thick in consistency. It was a little strange as I have never used any product similar to this. After spreading it out, my skin felt refreshed and I believe that this is due to the menthol contained in the product. It was very pleasant and there was nothing uncomfortable about it. If you’re sensitive to scents, you’d be happy to know that the scent to this product is extremely light and dissipates as it dries too.
Although it says on the packaging to wait about 15-20 minutes for the product to dry, it took longer for it to dry completely as I used a fairly good amount of product to make sure that it thoroughly covered all my pores. When it was dried, I could hardly make any movements on my face because it was tight on the skin. I guess it is very normal for a peel-off mask to give off this effect as it naturally shrinks as it dries up.
When peeling off the mask, it felt a little uncomfortable at first as I felt like I was ripping something harshly off my face. However, I got used to that feeling quickly and it was pretty tolerable.
Instantly after peeling the mask off, I noticed that my skin was noticeably brighter and more glowy. It felt very fresh and clean, as if I had a brand new layer of skin. I was pleasantly surprised as my skin felt super soft and smooth to the touch. When feeling my skin, the usual bumps and ridges on my skin were also smoothed out and was less prominent. Also, the pores on my skin looked less visible and my skin condition was better overall.
Having said all that, do take note that you may feel a slight flush to your skin for the next 15-20 minutes after peeling it off.
The results didn’t only stop there because my skin was still feeling soft and smooth the very next day! I’m in love! I believe that this product lives up to its claims and I am very pleased with it. Google this mask; you’ll see a tonne of positive reviews about it and notice the crazy amount of people who have made this mask one of their Holy Grail facial products. Now, I can say that I am definitely a convert myself.
The Boscia Luminizing Black Mask is available at any Sephora Malaysia outlets for RM130.
Sephora Starhill
Starhill Gallery,
181, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Sephora KLCC
Lot C22 Concourse Floor, Suria KLCC,
Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
50088 Kuala Lumpur.
Sephora Paradigm Mall
Lot 6&7, Upper Ground Floor,
No. 1, Jalan SS7/26A, Kelana Jaya
47301 Petaling Jaya Selangor.
Sephora Gurney Paragon Mall
Ground Floor, Gurney Paragon Mall,
163 Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang.
